When Amar was just a child, he was bitten by a snake.

Where he lives in rural Baglung district, there was no access to medical treatment, so he was treated with traditional herbal remedies. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to heal the bite, and Amar’s leg kept on deteriorating. He was in pain his whole life. Eventually, in his 30s, he had to have the leg amputated.

Having a disability like this in rural Nepal is so often tragically misunderstood. Amar faced discrimination from the community; even his sons didn’t want to live with him. He had very limited ability to work, with his wife working as a labourer to support them both.

With sadness, Amar told us about the days when he would crawl around because it was unbearably painful to walk, and the stress and trauma of feeling like an outcast in his community and family.

A new leg for renewed life

We are sharing this story at Easter, because what has happened to Amar since then is a story of renewal and restoration; a new life beginning in his 50s.

In 2023, a medical camp came to his home as part of the Community Medical Outreach project made possible by INF UK supporters. Amar went along, and he was referred to Green Pastures Hospital as a candidate for a prosthetic leg.

Using his new prosthetic, Amar found he was able to walk without pain – a rare experience since he was a young child. His confidence, dignity and mobility came flooding back, as once again he could do the things others took for granted. This man in his 50s regained his self-worth.

The change in Amar’s condition was so profound that his village neighbours couldn’t believe what had happened.

“People don’t even realise I’m disabled anymore,” he says. “An elder sister from my village was amazed to see me walking and asked, ‘Amar, did your leg grow back?!’”

His neighbours learned that disabilities can be overcome, and do not define a person’s worth. Amar and his wife are so thankful to the partners and supporters who gave him the chance to start a new life of opportunity in his 50s.

Imagine finding out after 40 years that you don’t have to live in pain and isolation!

We long for Nepalis in rural communities to have better medical access so that people like Amar can live life to the full.